Folding table.



J. o. EGKARTZ.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 7, 1908.

963g698. Patented Ju1y5, 1910.

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J. o; BcKARz..

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 7, 19081 Patented July 5, 1910.

2 SHEETS---SIHEET 2.

rmz NaRRs Pinasca, wnsngna'rom n. c.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 7, 1908.

Patented July 5, 1910.

Serial No. 456,571. Y

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. ECKARTZ a citizen of the United States, andresident of the borough of Manhattan; city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingTables7 of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to folding tables and has for its object toconstruct a table which can be easily and quickly folded into a smalland compact package and which may be readily set up for use.

My invention will be fully described hereinafter and the features ofnovelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1is a side elevation of my improved table; Fig. 2 is a front elevationthereof; Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the table top; Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail view of one of the top braces; Fig. 5 is an edge viewthereof; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4: of a slightly differentform of top brace; Fig. 7 is an inverted edge View thereof and Fig. 8 isa view of the table top in its folded condition.

The table comprises a top A composed of a number of sections A, A2, A2,A4, and A5 secured together by hinges A6 so as to be capable of beingfolded. Braces B are pivotally secured at B to the section A near thefront and rear edges of the top and are adapted to extend substantiallyacross the under face of said top to maintain it rigidly in its open orunfolded condition. These braces may comprise a single straight bar asshown at the right in Fig. 3 or they may be made of sections B2 and B3pivotally secured together as shown at the left in Fig. 3. Either formmay be used at both ends of the table, or one form may be used at eachend, as shown in Fig. 3. In all cases the braces B are provided at theirfree ends with projections C arranged to extend under catches D whichare fastened to the under face of the section A5 and maintain saidbraces B in position to brace the top in its open condition. Thesecatches D are preferably in the nature of loops which are inclined sothat the space between said catches and the under face of the topgradually decreases in the direction in which the braces are moved totheir operative position as shown in Fig. l. As the braces are thusmoved the projection C will be firmly clamped between said catches andtable top and prevented from becoming accidentally disengaged. Thebraces are further provided with eyelets E the purpose of which will bemore fully described hereinafter. If the braces are made in sections asshown at the left in Fig. 3 the sections B2 and B3 have secured theretoat adjacent ends clips or members F which may be fastened to saidsections by means o-f staples F as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Theseniembers are pivotally connected with each other by a link G and areprovided with shoulders F2 so as to prevent the joint from breaking inone direction. When said braces are constructed in this manner they maybe folded upon each other in one direction as shown by dotted lines atthe left in Fig. 8, but said braces are prevented from being folded inthe other direction by the shoulders F2. It is to be understood thatthese shoulders F2 are -so positioned that the braces are prevented frombreaking in a direction oppo site to that from which pressure is appliedwhen the table is set up, so that said braces in their operativeposition are substantially rigid and when not in use may be readily andeasily folded into a small compass.

The table further comprises a support consisting of legs H pivotallyconnected at their centers as indicated at H and provided at their upperends with hooks H2 arranged to enter the eyelets E of the braces B. Whenthe said hooks H2 are thus engaged with the eyelets E the legs H areprevented from spreading and serve as an efficient and rigid support forsaid table top. Each pair of legs H is connected with the other pair bymeans of rods I which cross each other and which are pivoted together attheir centers at I and have their free ends pivotally secured at I2 tomembers J. These mehr bers J are pivoted at J to lugs J2 which in turnare fastened to the legs H, it being understood that the pivots J eX-tend substantially at right angles to the pivots I2. A link K ispivotally connected with each pair of said rods I at I and is providednear its free end with a key hole slot K arranged to take over a pin K2secured to the brace at eachend of the table a. El i i 2vr f I' Y'963,698

topf The legs Vare thus rigidly held against spreading in'all directionsand the top is YVirmly supported in position for use.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a slightly dierent form Y of brace is shown. Inthe'construction the sections B2 and B3 are provided with clipsV l "or.members 7 which are substantially the fio" "1 shaped and whichstraddles'therfree vends of VVVsame as themeinbers F minus Vtheshoulders F2. These members f are pivotally connectedby means of aV linkg. whichis U- the members f. The braces made in this causethe legs I-Itoirbe swung on their pivots y YHf into Ya foldedk condition resultingin i bringing the legs and parts into a compact package. The braces B*are nowf swung projections C from the catches Dand'ifthe;

toward each other so asV to disengage the bracesaremade of'iconnectedsections the said sections arefoldedupon Veach other Vas Fig. 8, itbeingunderstood thatthe sections shown at the left in Fig. l.. VTheV tabletopv is now folded `into the Yposition shown inv of saidtop are soproportioned as to perf toplcomprising-a plurality of sections hingedtogether Vat their edges; braces permanently d mit this and the foldedlegsl are `inserted n Y into'the central space L.` Thetable in this j orshipped and is particularly adapted for camping or similar purposes. e

' Various modifications may be ymade withconditionV may be readily andeasily/.carried out departing from the nature of my in-` vention asdefined in they claims.

I claim: Y

v1. YIn a` folding table the combination of attached to the under sideof the top near one edge and mounted toswing transverse to the vtopsections; catches secured tothe top near the opposite edges forengagement by ksaid braces; eyelets secured to the opposite ends of saidbraces; lpivotally connected crosslegs forthe sides of the top havingprovisions to detachably connect with said eyelets; pivotally connectedvcross-rods at each end of the table pivotally connected to the legs neartheir upperl and lower ends; and

Aa brace at each end of the table pivotally connected with said crossrods at their crossingY point to turn about the same axis as the saidcross rods and detachably connected :with the table top near theend.

2. Ina folding table the combination of a topcomprising a plurality ofsections hinged together at their edges; braces permanently attachedtothe under side of the top near 'one edge and mounted to swingtransverse to the top sections, said braces comprising pivotallyconnected sections having stops to limit their relative movement;catches secured tothe top near the opposite edges for engagement bysaid-braces; eyelets secured to the opposite ends ofsaid braces;pivotally connected crosslegs for the sides of the top p havingprovisions to detachably connect wit i' said eyelets; pivotallyconnected cross-rods at each end nof the table pivotally connected tothe legs' near their up er and lower ends; and a brace at each'en of thetable pvotally connected with s aid cross rods at their crossing pointto; turn about the saine axis as the saidY cross rods and detachablyconnected Y with the table top near theY end.

AInV testimony whereof I liavesigned my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Y Y .Toi-iN c; ECKARTZ. Vitnesses e JOHN A. KEHLENBECK,

Jol-IN Lo'iKA.

